Mediterranean Dream: Italy & Spain, from Rome to Barcelona
Seventeen days from Rome to Barcelona: Tuscany, Venice and the Vatican, a cruise-ferry to the Spanish Mediterranean and a grand loop through Zaragoza, Madrid, Andalusia and Valencia to Gaudí’s Barcelona.
Departures: Friday departures · 2027 dates to be confirmed
Day-by-day itinerary
B · Breakfast · L · Lunch · D · Dinner
Day 1 · Rome
Welcome to Rome! Included transfer from the airport to the hotel. Use your 1-day Hop-On Hop-Off panoramic bus ticket (8 stops, audio guide in 12 languages) to discover the Eternal City at your own pace. Rest of the afternoon free. Accommodation in Rome.
Day 2 · Rome › Assisi › Siena › Florence (B, L)
Departure at 07:15 by luxury coach to Assisi, a medieval walled town. Visit the Basilica of San Francesco, with frescoes by Giotto and Cimabue, and enjoy lunch in Assisi. Continue to Siena, a UNESCO World Heritage site famed for its shell-shaped Piazza del Campo. Then travel through the Tuscan countryside to Florence. Check-in and accommodation.
Day 3 · Florence (B, L)
Discover Florence, cradle of the Renaissance: the Duomo, Brunelleschi’s Dome, Giotto’s Bell Tower and the Baptistery. Explore Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo Vecchio and the Basilica of Santa Croce. Lunch at a typical Tuscan restaurant. In the afternoon, choose free time or an optional excursion to Pisa. Dinner at leisure. Accommodation in Florence.
Day 4 · Florence › Bologna › Venice (B, food experience)
Travel to Bologna, a city rich in culture and food. Walk from Piazza Malpighi to Piazza Maggiore, admiring the Basilica of San Petronio and the Palazzo del Podestà. Discover its culinary heritage with a light, vibrant local lunch (food experience with 1 drink included). In the afternoon, depart for Venice. Arrival, check-in and time to rest. Accommodation.
Day 5 · Venice (B, food experience)
Transfer to St Mark’s Square for a guided tour of Venice’s most iconic sights. Admire the Doge’s Palace (from outside) and cross the Bridge of Sighs. Then enjoy a glass of spritz or prosecco with cicchetti, the traditional Venetian tapas. In the afternoon, freely explore the canals and hidden corners. Accommodation in Venice.
Day 6 · Venice › Montepulciano › Rome (B, L)
After breakfast, depart for Montepulciano, in the heart of Tuscany, with medieval charm and panoramic views. Enjoy a traditional Tuscan lunch at a local restaurant with a glass of selected local wine. Free time to stroll the old town before rejoining the group. In the afternoon, depart for Rome and accommodation.
Day 7 · Rome (B)
In the morning, a guided “skip-the-line” tour of the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s Square. Discover the Tapestry and Map Galleries, Raphael’s Rooms and Michelangelo’s masterpiece in the Sistine Chapel. The tour ends in St Peter’s Square. Rest of the day free or an optional excursion. Overnight in Rome.
Day 8 · Rome › Civitavecchia · night sailing (B)
Breakfast at the hotel and free morning. At around 19:30, transfer from the hotel to the port of Civitavecchia to board the cruise-ferry bound for Barcelona. Departure around 23:00 and night on board. The cruise-ferry offers a pool, bars, restaurants, shops and leisure areas.
Day 9 · Sailing › arrival in Barcelona (B, L)
Breakfast and lunch on board. During the crossing you can enjoy the cruise-ferry’s services: pool, sun loungers, 24-hour café, restaurants, boutique, gym and leisure lounges. Arrival in Barcelona at the end of the day, disembarkation and transfer to the hotel. Accommodation.
Day 10 · Barcelona › Zaragoza › Madrid (B)
Breakfast at the hotel and departure to the southwest. Arrival in Zaragoza, capital of Aragón on the banks of the Ebro; free time to visit the impressive Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar. Continue to Madrid and accommodation. For operational reasons, the Barcelona–Madrid leg may be by high-speed train (tourist class, without a tour leader).
Day 11 · Madrid › Córdoba › Seville (B)
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure south through the land of Don Quixote (stop at Puerto Lápice) and, via the natural pass of Despeñaperros, into Andalusia. Arrival in Córdoba and a visit to its stunning Mosque-Cathedral and the Jewish Quarter. In the afternoon, continue to Seville. Accommodation.
Day 12 · Seville (B)
Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, a monumental and panoramic tour of the city, with entrance to the Cathedral (the largest Gothic cathedral in the world). A walk through the Santa Cruz Quarter, María Luisa Park and Plaza de España. Free afternoon to explore the city. Accommodation. Optional: a flamenco show.
Day 13 · Seville › Granada (B)
Breakfast at the hotel and departure along the Route of the Caliphate, among olive groves, into the heart of Andalusia. Arrival in Granada, the last stronghold of the Nasrid Kingdom until 1492. Visit the world-famous Alhambra complex and the Generalife Gardens (entrance included). Accommodation. In the evening, optional: a Zambra Flamenca show in the Sacromonte.
Day 14 · Granada › Valencia (B)
Breakfast at the hotel and departure to the Levante coast. Arrival in Valencia, one of the great capitals of the Mediterranean coast, home to the modern City of Arts and Sciences and birthplace of the world-famous “paella”. Accommodation.
Day 15 · Valencia › Barcelona (B)
Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, a tour of Valencia: its old town and the exterior of the avant-garde City of Arts and Sciences. In the afternoon, departure north along the Mediterranean coast via Tarragona (Roman Tarraco). Arrival in Barcelona, home of the genius Antoni Gaudí. Accommodation.
Day 16 · Barcelona (B)
Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, a tour of the city of the 1992 Olympic Games: its grand avenues and Gaudí’s Modernista masterpieces (Casa Milà or La Pedrera and Casa Batlló, World Heritage Sites), Montjuïc Park with harbour views, the Olympic Ring and the Columbus monument. Free afternoon. Accommodation.
Day 17 · Barcelona (B)
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport and end of our services.
What’s included
- Arrival transfer from Rome airport to the hotel
- Rome: daily Hop-On Hop-Off panoramic bus ticket
- Visits to Assisi, Siena, Bologna and the Tuscan wine region
- Lunch in Assisi
- Guided tour in Florence and Venice
- Lunch at a typical Tuscan restaurant in Florence
- Food experience in Bologna with 1 drink included
- Spritz and cicchetti in Venice
- Traditional Tuscan lunch in Montepulciano with 1 glass of wine
- Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s Square (skip-the-line entry)
- Transfer from the Rome hotel to the port of Civitavecchia
- Cruise-ferry ticket Civitavecchia–Barcelona with lunch on board (self-service)
- Transfer from the port of Barcelona to the hotel
- Guided tours with local guides in Córdoba, Seville, Granada and Toledo
- Entrances to the Mosque of Córdoba, Seville Cathedral and the Alhambra of Granada
- Luxury air-conditioned coach and daily breakfast
- Tour leader during the route (by segment) and travel insurance in Spain
Not included
- Flights
- Tips of any kind and personal extras
- City accommodation tax (paid at the hotel)
- Drinks not included with meals, unless part of the experience
- Entrance to museums or monuments not mentioned
- Anything not listed under “Included”
Planned hotels
4★ hotels (or similar)
- Rome: Hotel St. Martin 4* / Hotel Diana Roof Garden 4*
- Florence: Hotel Raffaello 4* / Hotel Una Vittoria 4*
- Venice: B&B Venezia Laguna (Tronchetto) / Hotel Delfino 4* (Mestre)
- Barcelona: Catalonia Barcelona 505 4* / Evenia Rosselló or similar
- Madrid: Meliá Castilla / Aloft Madrid Gran Vía / 1881 Madrid Ventas or similar
- Seville: Catalonia Santa Justa 4* or similar
- Granada: Sabica or similar
- Valencia: 4* hotel or similar
Prices per person
Price and dates to be confirmed
This trip is being prepared for 2027 and does not yet have published fares or departures. Send us your request and we’ll let you know as soon as they’re confirmed, with no obligation.
Important notes
- This trip combines Italy and Spain in a single route. On the Spanish legs the tour may be shared with travellers on other itineraries and the tour leader may change depending on the segment.
- During the stays in Rome, Barcelona and Madrid, and during the ferry crossing, there is no tour-leader service.
- To board the cruise-ferry, passengers must pass the security check with their luggage. Lunch on board is served self-service.
- Tour leader is English-only in Italy and bilingual (English and Spanish) throughout the Spanish part of the route.
Frequently asked questions
- Are flights included?
- No. The price does not include any flights: neither the international arrival flight to Rome and the departure flight, nor any air travel between Italy and Spain. The crossing between the two countries is by overnight cruise-ferry from Civitavecchia to Barcelona, which is included.
- How do you travel from Italy to Spain?
- By an overnight cruise-ferry from Civitavecchia (the port of Rome) to Barcelona. You board in the evening and spend a night on board in a cabin, and the next day the ship sails on to reach Barcelona at the end of the day. The ferry has a pool, restaurants, bars and shops.
- What language is the guide in?
- The guided visits in Spain (Córdoba, Seville, Granada and Toledo) are run by local guides in Spanish. The tour leader along the route may be English-speaking on the Italian part; ask us about your specific departure. During the free stays in Rome, Barcelona and Madrid and on the ferry there is no tour leader.
- Which monument tickets are included?
- Included are the entrances to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel (skip-the-line) in Rome, the Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba, Seville Cathedral, and the Alhambra complex and Generalife Gardens in Granada.
- What category are the hotels?
- You stay in 4-star hotels (or similar) in every city on the route, with daily breakfast included. Your travel documents will list the specific hotels planned or their equivalents.
- How much does it cost and on what dates does it run?
- This is a trip being prepared for 2027: it does not yet have published fares or confirmed departures. Send us your request with no obligation and we will notify you with the price and dates as soon as they are confirmed.
General information
Prices
- All prices are per person, in euros (€), and include service and current VAT.
- They are subject to change without notice due to VAT variations, local taxes or surcharges not communicated at the time of publishing.
- Accommodation in the listed hotels or similar; Fantasía tours stay in 4* hotels.
- One child aged 1–6 stays free sharing a bed with parents (one child per room).
City accommodation tax
- Not included. It is paid directly at the hotel on arrival or at check-out.
- The amount varies by hotel category and city.
Departures and meeting point
- Guaranteed monolingual departures. If the minimum of 12 participants per language is not reached, the departure is guaranteed with alternative solutions, always ensuring a tour leader who speaks the required languages.
- Fantasía 4 and 5 days: departure from Rome, meeting point at Hotel St. Martin at 07:15.
- For technical or logistical reasons, itineraries may be subject to changes.
The tours include
- Gran Turismo coach transport.
- Spanish-speaking tour leader (when included in the itinerary).
- Accommodation in 3- or 4-star hotels.
- Entrance to archaeological sites or museums when included in the itinerary.
- Visits with an expert local guide as per the itinerary.
- Breakfast at the hotels.
- Meals, wine tastings or food experiences when included in the itinerary.
The tours do not include
- Tips of any kind and personal extras.
- Porterage.
- Drinks not included with meals, unless part of the experience.
- Entrance to museums or monuments when not mentioned.
- City accommodation tax.
- Anything not mentioned under “The tours include”.
Luggage
- Each traveller may carry 1 checked bag (23–32 kg) and 1 carry-on; please meet the airlines’ weight limits.
- Some hotels may charge a small fee to store luggage before check-in or after check-out.
Accessibility
- The tours are not recommended for people with walking difficulties.
- Visits that include the Vatican Museums are not suitable for wheelchair users.
Unforeseen closures and dietary preferences
- If a museum, archaeological site or other included place is closed due to force majeure and the visit cannot be rescheduled, we will offer an alternative activity of equivalent value; if not possible, the unused portion will be refunded.
- On tours with lunches or dinners, let us know in advance about allergies, intolerances or preferences (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free) so we can accommodate them.
- In case of loss or damage to the audio headsets, a charge of €100 per device applies.
Cancellations and complaints
- Up to 22 days before departure: no charge.
- From 21 to 15 days before departure: 30%.
- From 14 to 7 days before departure: 70%.
- 6 days or fewer, or no-show: 100%. Deadlines are counted in calendar days before departure.
- Complaints must be sent by email within 60 days of the date of the last service provided.